Lesson 2: Installing Required Tools for .NET Backend Development

Meta Description

Learn how to install and set up all the necessary tools for .NET backend development. This step-by-step guide covers installing .NET SDK, Visual Studio or VS Code, Postman for API testing, and Docker for containerized deployment.

Why Proper Setup is Important?

Before starting any .NET backend project, you need a solid development environment. A proper setup ensures: ✅ Smooth development workflow
✅ Compatibility with cloud services (Azure, AWS, Firebase)
✅ Best performance for building scalable APIs
✅ Seamless debugging and deployment

Tools You’ll Need

To start developing a .NET backend, install the following:

Tool Purpose Download Link
.NET SDK Core framework for building .NET apps Download
Visual Studio / VS Code Code editor for .NET development VS / VS Code
Postman API testing tool Postman
Docker (Optional) For containerized deployment Docker

Step 1: Install .NET SDK

What is .NET SDK?

.NET SDK (Software Development Kit) is essential for building and running .NET applications. It includes:

  • .NET CLI (Command-Line Interface)
  • Libraries for application development
  • ASP.NET Core components

Installation Instructions:

  1. Visit .NET SDK Download Page
  2. Select the latest .NET LTS (Long-Term Support) version for your operating system.
  3. Download and install the appropriate package.
  4. Verify the installation: 
    dotnet --version

    Expected output: Installed version of .NET (e.g., 8.0.100)

Step 2: Install a Code Editor (Visual Studio or VS Code)

You can use either Visual Studio or VS Code, depending on your preference.

Option 1: Install Visual Studio (Full IDE, Recommended for Windows Users)

  1. Download from Visual Studio Official Site
  2. Install with the following workloads:
    • ASP.NET and Web Development
    • .NET Core cross-platform development
  3. Open Visual Studio and create a new project to verify installation.

Option 2: Install VS Code (Lightweight, Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux)

  1. Download from VS Code Official Site
  2. Install the C# extension from the Extensions Marketplace.
  3. Open a new terminal in VS Code and run: 
    dotnet new console -o TestApp
cd TestApp
dotnet run

    If you see Hello, World!, your setup is working.

Step 3: Install Postman for API Testing

Postman is a tool to test API endpoints before integrating them with a frontend.

  1. Download Postman from here.
  2. Open Postman and create a new request.
  3. Select GET and enter a placeholder API like: 
    https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts/1
  4. Click Send, and you should see a JSON response.

Step 4: (Optional) Install Docker for Containerized Deployment

Docker is useful for running your .NET backend in a containerized environment.

  1. Download Docker from Docker Official Site.
  2. Install Docker following the setup instructions for your operating system.
  3. Verify the installation: 
    docker --version
  4. To check if Docker is running correctly, run: 
    docker run hello-world

    If you see a confirmation message, Docker is working properly.

Summary & Next Steps

What We Covered:

✅ Installed .NET SDK and verified installation.
✅ Installed a code editor (Visual Studio or VS Code).
✅ Installed Postman for API testing.
✅ (Optional) Installed Docker for containerized deployment.

Next Lesson: Setting Up Firebase for User Authentication

Now that our environment is set up, in the next lesson, we will configure Firebase for user authentication, install the Firebase Admin SDK, and set up dynamic project switching in our backend API.

➡ Continue to Lesson 3